Students

The Research Student's Life

The rest of the text on this page has been written by one of our Research
Students to help to give an insight into life as
a Research Student at the Institute of Archaeology.

Post-Graduate Research at the Institute of
Archaeology

Introduction

The most striking aspect about being a graduate student at the
UCL Institute of Archaeology is the working environment created
by the place. There are currently over 250 graduate students
and over 60 staff members actively involved in research projects creating
a lively and stimulating environment within which to work. It
can be a very difficult choice to decide on the best place for
graduate research and this informal discussion is designed to
give an insight into the life of a graduate student at the UCL Institute
of Archaeology or at the ‘Institute’ as it is affectionately
known. The descriptions of life as a graduate student below were
all provided by graduate students currently working at the Institute.

Funding

Perhaps the first step along the graduate path for
any student is funding. The Institute has a very good record for
getting
students funding from national funding bodies (the exact figures
of scholarship allocations can be seen on the funding body websites).
The Institute seems to have a good standing with bodies like
the AHRC reflected by the number of scholarships awarded
to prospective Institute students each year. If you want to apply
to one of these funding bodies you need to contact the department
before making your application. It is always good to start thinking
about funding applications well in advance of when you want to
start at the institute, as deadlines are often up to eight months
before the start of the academic year. There are a number of
internal funds that are available when you become a graduate
student at the Institute to help finance research related activities
such as fieldwork or conferences. These funds can enable graduate
students to carry out quite ambitious research projects as part
of their graduate research. More information about funding bodies,
eligibility and how to apply can be found at UCL’s main
website.

Supervision

The Institute recognises that the supervisor is perhaps the most
crucial part of any graduate study and there is a well-established
process in place to insure that you develop the best working
relationship with your supervisor. With over 60 members of
academic staff at the Institute working in over 30 countries around
the world
it is likely that you should be able to find a supervisor well
suited to your research interests that can successfully inspire
and supervise your work. The relatively informal atmosphere
of the Institute is reflected in the good relationship that
most
students have with their supervisors, meeting regularly, discussing
ideas, sharing results and developing new research objectives
overtime. As well as an academic supervisor there is also a
graduate tutor who is always there to lend support and advice
throughout
the year.

Library and Teaching Collections

The Library is a fantastic resource for the graduate student
with a comprehensive collection of heritage related literature
and teaching
collections. The graduate students can take out up to 10 items
on their library card and read them at their leisure in the
research rooms or at home. As well as the Institute Library
you can also
make good use of the other four UCL libraries, the Senate House
Library and the British Library all a short walk from the Institute.
Over the past 67 years that the Institute of Archaeology has
been in existence it has accumulated a number of fantastic
teaching collections that students can use. These can be extremely
useful
for all students, particularly those working with ceramic,
osteological or archaeobotanical collections.

Research Rooms

All graduate students have a research room where they can find
a tranquil environment to write papers and read books from
the library. These rooms also have computer terminals so you
can
browse the library archives whilst printing off an online journal
article. There are also lockers provided so you can keep possessions
secured in the building.

Fieldwork

Organising fieldwork and getting work experience is strongly encouraged
by the Institute and the majority of Graduate students make good
use of this opportunity. Many of the master’s programs
include work placements using well-established contacts with
a number of museums, archaeological companies and heritage agencies.
So the Institute has all the necessary administrative and financial
networks in place to help graduate students gain the necessary
work experience or to set up their own independent fieldwork
projects.

International Students

London can be a bit of an intimidating place for any new arrival
but the Institute is a very international place with a large
proportion of international students and staff. This makes
it an easy place for any new student to fit in quickly and
become
part of the research community. UCL also provides an induction
for international students arriving from oversees so that you
soon become familiar with the UCL campus.

Events

Being such a large department there are a lot of
events going on all year round that students are encouraged to
participate in.
These seminar series, conferences and lectures are a great way
to meet colleagues and hear about the latest developments in
Archaeology. It is also possible to join one of the Institute’s
established research groups where you can meet fellow students
and staff members working in your research area. The primary
research groups include, Environment and Culture, Heritage Studies,
Complex and Literate Societies, Social and Cultural Dynamics,
Material Culture and Data Science.

Social life

With Covent Garden and Soho just a few minutes walk away; the Institute
enjoys a great location in the centre of London. The research rooms,
seminars and common room mean that it is easy to meet fellow students
and then enjoy the best of what has London has to offer with friends.
The UCL and ULU unions are also only a stones throw away and always
provide a lively place to ‘unwind’ at the end of each
day. The Institute also has regular department parties organised
by the SAS (Society of Archaeology Students) where it is possible
to meet people in an informal environment.

Employment

Unfortunately, graduate studies at the Institute can’t last
forever and getting a job when you finish is everyone’s top
priority. The training, work experience and contacts you can build
up whilst at the institute gives you the best possible chance of
finding the job you want when you finish.